“He’s going to play by mine!” I’d never felt so exasperated, so terrified in my life. I hadn’t told him how I felt before he did something so goddamn stupid. “What if he’s dead? What am I going to do then?”
“Calm down,” she said. “Drink more champagne.”
“I adore you for trying, but I can’t do this. I need to go to the goddamn church. I don’t care.” As soon as I started for the door, she stopped me.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I will get some men to lock you in this room if I need to. You are not going anywhere. Try and relax. Okay? He’s only ten minutes late.”
“Ten minutes is a lifetime.” I took a deep breath, returning to the window in hopes of catching sight of him.
Another two minutes passed.
Another three.
I couldn’t take it any longer.
“You’re right, you know,” I whispered.
“What am I so right about?”
“I do love him. Everything I told you before is true about him driving me crazy, but I love him. He’s everything I never knew I needed.”
“Then maybe you need to tell him yourself.”
“I will. If only…”
“If only what?”
The deep voice shocked me. I snapped my head to the window, noticing his reflection. His big, beautiful reflection. A sob left my throat as I turned around, shocked he was standing in the doorway. “I thought I’d lost you.” With my dress hiked up, I rushed toward him, barely able to catch my breath.
“You can’t get away from me that fast.” He peered down at me, shaking his head. “You are so goddamn beautiful.”
“You’re late.”
“I had to change my clothes. I couldn’t allow my new bride to see me… disheveled.”
Covered in blood. The specks on his cheek and neck told no lies.
“And?”
“It’s done.” He placed his finger against my nose. “And no, you’re not going to get any details. That’s the last thing we need.”
“Is everyone…”
He chuckled. “We lost a few men, but my brothers weathered the attack.”
“What about the girl who pretended to be me?”
“Injured, but she should be alright.”
I tentatively placed my hand on his chest as a single tear slipped down my cheek.
“Don’t cry, my angel. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
With a deep sigh, he lifted my chin with his finger, the piercing look in his eyes one I’d never seen before. Full of love. “You need to listen to me, Catherine. I can’t promise our life will be perfect or without danger. That’s not possible and you’re right, I won’t try and insult you by sugarcoating who and what I am. I’m a monster. But I also realized something very important. I love you.”
“You do?”
